Upon returning to Hope City, Qin Shilei immediately summoned Mu Ziping, the head of the Intelligence Department.
Mu Ziping had previously served as Qin Shilei's adjutant and was now the head of Hope City's Intelligence Department. His strength had also grown considerably, possessing a cultivation base of Silver Seven Stars.
Qin Shilei pointed to the map on the table and asked, "Ziping, has your Intelligence Department compiled a list of spatial rifts in our Great Xia?"
Mu Ziping picked up a red pen from the table and quickly drew nine small circles on the map. "City Lord, based on the information we've gathered from the chat channels and our own investigations, these nine locations are likely to have spatial rifts."
Qin Shilei looked at the nine locations marked by Mu Ziping, five of which coincided with his own knowledge. These were the spatial rifts near Bei'an City, Dechuan City, Yonghua County, Hope City, and Lingquan City. The spatial rift near Lingquan City was likely connected to the Abyss World. Qin Shilei had not sought out that particular spatial rift because he believed the "Foodie" could not solve that problem.
Suddenly, a city name caught Qin Shilei's eye: Changzhou City, located between Junhai City and Bei'an City. "Are there really spatial rifts near Changzhou City? I remember when I traveled from Junhai City to Bei'an City some time ago, I didn't encounter any large-scale mutated beasts."
"A few days ago, survivors from Changzhou City reported that their city was surrounded by insects, so we inferred that there must be a spatial rift nearby."
Qin Shilei inquired about the other three suspected locations of spatial rifts, then dismissed Mu Ziping. He took the map and rode Xiao Qiang towards Changzhou City.
An hour later, he finally arrived above Changzhou City. Looking down, he indeed saw that Changzhou was heavily besieged by countless insects of various kinds. Fortunately, Changzhou City was protected by a fifty-meter-high city wall, so the survivors inside were temporarily safe.
Qin Shilei rode Xiao Qiang around Changzhou City for over half an hour but still could not locate the spatial rift. "I hope the survivors in Changzhou City know the location of the spatial rift." Qin Shilei had no choice but to have Xiao Qiang fly towards Changzhou City.
As the massive figure of the Golden Winged Thunder Roc approached Changzhou City, it immediately attracted the attention of the evolvers on the city wall.
Buzz!
A sharp alarm blared loudly.
"Mutated beasts are attacking, prepare for defense!"
"This giant eagle, I feel like I've seen it somewhere before."
"It seems like the number one person on Blue Star, Qin Shilei, also has a pet like this. Could he be here to save us?"
"Are you stupid? If he could save us, we wouldn't have had to flee a thousand miles and come to Changzhou."
"You're the stupid one. The insects surrounding Bei'an City were cleared out long ago, and it was Qin Shilei who did it."
"Does that mean we're saved?"
"Who knows? We were deserters back then. If Lord Qin recognizes us, he might not save us."
"Why don't we all pretend not to know Lord Qin?"
"Alright, transmit my order, everyone will pretend not to know Lord Qin. I'll also send someone to notify the City Lord and the others now."
When Qin Shilei flew alone to the city wall, numerous evolvers surrounded him with weapons, acting as if they didn't know him.
"My name is Qin Shilei. Do you know if there is a spatial rift nearby?" Qin Shilei asked.
"Qin Shilei, the number one person on Blue Star?" a captain exclaimed as if he had suddenly realized something. "Lord Qin, are you here to rescue us? We don't know if there's a spatial rift. How about I take you to see our superior officer?"
"Alright, lead the way," Qin Shilei said calmly. The captain immediately drove a car enthusiastically, taking Qin Shilei into the city.
As they were halfway there, someone from the Changzhou City Lord's Mansion intercepted them and led them to a luxurious mansion. "This is the residence of Xie Haitao, the person in charge of Changzhou City. Please come in!"
Passing through the courtyard, Qin Shilei soon entered a large hall. A slightly plump middle-aged man smilingly greeted him, "Mr. Qin's arrival is an unexpected honor. Xie, I have failed to welcome you properly. Please forgive me."
Qin Shilei responded calmly, "Hello, Mr. Xie." After a few brief pleasantries, Xie Haitao couldn't help but ask proactively, "May I ask why Mr. Qin has come to Changzhou City?"
Qin Shilei got straight to the point, "There should be a spatial rift near here. Do you know where it is?"
Xie Haitao probed, "May I ask why Mr. Qin is looking for the spatial rift?"
Qin Shilei replied plainly, "I intend to enter the insect world through the spatial rift." Although he was here to solve the problem of the spatial rift, he did not want to reveal too much to avoid them shamelessly requesting him to use the "Foodie" to help them level up.
Upon hearing this, Xie Haitao's face immediately showed a hint of disappointment. After a moment of hesitation, he pleaded, "Lord Qin, I've heard you have a purple beetle that can control the insects outside the city. On behalf of the hundreds of thousands of survivors in Changzhou City, I implore Mr. Qin to lead us in destroying the insects outside the city."
Qin Shilei hadn't expected them to know that he could control insects through the "Foodie." He could only explain briefly, "I am looking for the spatial rift precisely to help you solve the problem of the insect siege. As long as you tell me the location of the spatial rift, I can block the insects from the insect world from continuing to come to our Blue Star through the spatial rift. Then you can slowly clear out the insects outside the city. This will naturally resolve the problem of the insect siege, and you can take the opportunity to kill insects and earn crystal cores."
Xie Haitao squinted, observing Qin Shilei as if he were pondering whether Qin Shilei was lying. Inwardly, he suspected that Qin Shilei was making excuses, believing that Qin Shilei had some unspeakable secret for seeking the spatial rift. After a moment's thought, he said, "Mr. Qin, although I am the person in charge of Changzhou City, I am not very clear about whether there is a spatial rift nearby. Please rest here for a moment. I will go down and ask someone, and then I will reply to you."
"Alright," Qin Shilei agreed readily, not suspecting anything. Xie Haitao had some snacks served and then got up to leave the hall. Soon, he arrived in another large hall behind the mansion. "City Lord, Qin Shilei has come to our Changzhou City to go to the insect world through the spatial rift. He has also refused my request and is unwilling to help us solve the problem of the insect siege outside the city." Xie Haitao then quickly recounted every word he had said to Qin Shilei. Feng Yuxin, who was sitting in the main seat, frowned and said, "Everyone, let's discuss how we can get Qin Shilei to help us solve the problem of the insects outside the city."